Chapter Four:
ELIJAH CRAWFORD
"So, how'd it go?" Patricia popped her head into the conference room from the hallway.
She has been my most trusted assistant since I first went into business. More along the age of my parents, she has always had a hint of mothering to her. Something I was unused to, but not unwelcomed. I knew she would be checking up on me.
I rubbed a hand over the stubble on my face. "I suppose it went alright. With unconventional advertisements you get unconventional people."
She stepped into the room and hummed. "Yes, that seems to be true. But, that's what you wanted, isn't it? Someone atypical? Someone who might be a little more open to the job?"
"Yeah, that was the idea. But these applicants certainly aren't what I had hoped for."
"Hm." She stepped in and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "That last one, though, what was her name?"
"Avery. Avery Mitts, a senior student at university."
There was a brief pause as she walked to a chair and began to brush the top of the back off. "Well, how about her?"
I frowned as I tried to make sense of her inquiry. "You mean how about her as in how about I hire her?"
She nodded, her expression sincere. "Yes, Eli. Let's hire her."
I blew out a loud breath and coughed out a chuckle. "You're joking, right?"
"I didn't think she seemed too bad." She looked away, a little suspiciously. "She was very sweet."
"Sweet? Pat, you know as well as I do that 'sweet' won't cut it. I mean, on paper she seemed okay, but she was late and improperly dressed. That is really hard for me to get passed. Among other things, as well."
She walked to the window and looked out. "She was late because it was a scheduling error. My fault, not hers."
I laced my fingers and followed her gaze across the darkening town. "She didn't say anything like that."
"Well, it was a mistake. I messed up and she took the hit, I guess. Her email said six thirty and I scheduled her for six. I'm still not used to military time, and it really messes with my scheduling." She huffed out a sigh. "As for sweet? You're lucky to find that quality these days. Most college students are inflated by their egos. That, combined with the stress of trying to figure out life and pass finals, all while being hungover. Don't tell me you don't remember those days." She smirked at me over her shoulder.
I grunted with a shake of my head. "It's not just that. See, I expected that from her, the ego and disorganization of early adulthood. And her thoughts seem well put together, but a little too put together. She also seems skittish or something. I can't place it."
"Too put together? Coming from you?" She laughed.
I shrugged, brushing her off. I didn't need to justify myself to her, but she sure had a way of making me feel like I did. "Besides that, she's much too young. It would be very difficult to pass her off as my partner."
She forced a smile and shook her head. "If you say so."
Pat seldom contradicted me. It was probably why we got along so well. But right now, I can tell she's itching to speak her mind. I slapped a hand on the table. "Go ahead, say it."
She held up her hands and backed away. "Not my place."
I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache starting to form behind my eyes. "Pat, please just say it. I won't hold it against you."
She scoffed. "Oh, you mean like that time you made me completely alphabetize your accounts payable and then decided you wanted them reversed? All coincidentally after I told you your cologne stunk?"
I chuckled and rubbed my chin while looking out the window. That was a hard day for her. I made her do the task for each one of my businesses as well reassign new reference numbers to reflect the new order. "Fair enough. I'll grant you immunity this time. Just say what it is that you want to say."
"How do I know you mean it?"
I blew out a breath. I was hungry and tired. I wanted to get home instead of arguing with her about this. I sat up and organized the applications, getting them ready to put into my briefcase to look over when I got home.
"I'll text Chloe that I give you immunity for the next ten minutes. You know she'll hold me to it."
She narrowed her eyes at me. "When do you see her next?"
"She's flying in later this month for the holidays. It's just me and her this year. Mom and Dad wanted to spend their holiday out in London."
"Why aren't you two visiting them out there?"
"We're just not." I picked up my phone and typed out the text to my sister. I hit the send button and held the screen up to Patricia. "There. Immunity, like I promised. Now will you please tell me what's on your mind?"
She sighed and took a moment to stare at her feet. With a click of her tongue, she leaned in as if she were confessing a dirty secret, "She's a good fit and you're distrusting. There. I said it." She turned to leave the room.
I sat up. "Excuse me? You think I'm distrusting?"
She stopped and nodded. "Yes." She turned to face me again, her shoulders pulled tight to her neck as she relinquished her thoughts. "I think you let too much of what you've been through affect these types of decisions. When you weren't in the market for a stand-in, you defaulted on women older than you."
"Nothing wrong with older women. Older women are more mature. More of the caregiving nature."
"But I think it's time you stay open-minded to all of your options. The kind of women you are 'supposedly' attracted to? The unattached older women? You have a tendency to default to the ones who seem desperate."
"You think older women are desperate?"
"No. That's not what I said."
"You're an older woman and you don't seem desperate."
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "True. But I don't see a need for a relationship. I'm content with my life. Regardless, we're not talking about me. The women you seek out are a different story entirely. Quit trying to deflect."
I thought back to my most recent break-up. It was a bit of a nightmare. She was constantly accusing me of cheating or lying to get out of spending time with her. And there was no amount of discussion that could convince her otherwise. No gesture big enough to reaffirm my affections for her. She was the one that pushed me over the edge to decide to seek out a platonic arrangement.
I swallowed. "I see your point. But this girl," I tapped Avery's application in front of me. "She's too young. I don't have time to hold someone's hand through life. The other applicants seem a bit more stable than her. A little further in life. If I'm being honest, she is my last pick."
Pat threw her hands up in the air. "Well, maybe she needs you, Eli. I can sense it, I know you can too, something is off about that girl. But she also seems sincere, unlike some of the other applicants who are too distracted by your 'debonair smile'. I think you could get along well with this one. I think you could both win in this situation."
"I am looking for an employee, not a charity case." This is why I seldom let her give her opinion. I could feel my blood pressure rising. "You know what, immunity ends now. Go home."
She shook her head and laughed quietly as she turned to leave. "You've got it, boss. But charity cases? They have something to lose, Eli. They won't compromise an arrangement."
"There's too much mystery with her. The other girls are a lot less risky."
"They are completely risky! Are you seriously immune to how they swooned over you?"
"There was no swooning."
"There was plenty of swooning."
